On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c22.s5.1

v2.c22.s5.1

Proceeding with his narrative the pilgrim relates that "south-west from this he entered an estuary, and going north-west 2400 or 2500 li he arrived at the A-t'a(or -ch'a)-li country". This, he states, was above 6000 li in circuit, and its capital was above twenty li in circuit. The inhabitants were rich and flourishing, they were more traders than farmers; the soil was sandy and brackish and fruits and flowers were rare. The country produced a pepper-tree the leaves of which were like those of the *Shu-chiao*, and also the olibanum tree the leaves of which were like those of the *t'ang-li*. The climate was hot, and there was much wind and dust; the people were mean-spirited, prizing wealth and slighting moral worth. In speech and writing, and in social regulations and laws the inhabitants resembled those of Mālava; the majority did not believe in happiness (i. e., religious merit) but there were some who did; they worshipped Devas and of Deva-temples there were some more than ten (or, according to the B text, more than 1000); the followers of the various systems lived pell-mell.